Pension Rights Center

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is getting ready to implement a new law that allows distressed union multi-employer pension plans to reduce retiree benefits — if that can halt them from sliding into insolvency.

Regulations issued by the Department of Treasury and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will help troubled multiemployer plans from sliding into insolvency, but not without forcing participants and beneficiaries to make hard choices, pension professionals told Bloomberg BNA in recent interviews.

Six months after Congress approved reducing benefits promised to workers covered by certain troubled pension plans, the IRS and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. have published proposed rules for how pension promises can be broken.

PRC Executive Vice President and Policy Director Karen Friedman appeared on this radio program to discuss Sen. Bernie Sanders' bill to repeal benefit cutbacks for retirees in certain underfunded multiemployer pension plans. Karen's segment begins at 19:40 in the podcast and lasts for approximately 30 minutes. [AUDIO]

Mike Walden used a baseball metaphor in describing the introduction Thursday of federal legislation that would, if passed, eliminate pension cut provisions that are now law and could impact more than a million people in upcoming years.

PensionHelp America connects people who need help with their pension, 401(k), and other retirement plans with the pension counseling projects, legal services providers, and government agencies that can help answer their questions. Visit www.pensionhelp.org.